Chris Smither/Matt Harmon

Husky-voiced singer-songwriter Chris Smither has a career that stretches back some 40 years. He continues to make excellent music; his new album, Hundred Dollar Valentine, is a terrific collection of folk and blues ballads that features a backing band that includes drummer Billy Conway (Morphine, Treat Her Right), harmonica player Jimmy Fitting, singer Anita Suhanin, and violinist Ian Kennedy (Page/Plant, Lemonheads, Juliana Hatfield, Peter Wolf, Susan Tedeschi). While Smither’s gravelly voice sounds a bit like Tom Waits’, the guy takes a much gentler approach that appeals to both the folk and rock crowds. (Niesel)